Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have to look at what recommendations the committee can make. Among the ones that were made there was a suggestion of the planning process having the economic viability assessment as part of an outline planning permission. I am concerned that this would just become another exercise in paperwork. In other words, another report and an additional cost, and that once people got that report produced, it is likely that it would be hard for them not to get their planning permission granted. From the experience in other countries, how rigorous is that process? Take the example of apartment financing.

At the start of a process, people can certainly produce plans as to how they would like to have it financed down the road. From the experience in other countries, if it is acceptable for a developer to just project that they will be able to get the finance later on, how will a planning authority be able to reject the developer's plans and tell them the projections will not stand up?